This project was designed to renovate an existing and inadequate stormwater management system which periodically resulted in backflow and flooding on the Salem State College campus.  Epsilon performed Chapter 91 jurisdictional analysis, including Geoprobe sediment coring, to determine historic environmental conditions.  This program confirmed the presence of a historic tidal creek and verified that the project was subject to Chapter 91.  Epsilon prepared and submitted a Chapter 91 Waterways License Application to DEP and obtained an amended Order of Conditions from the Salem Conservation Commission on behalf of the Massachusetts State College Building Authority.

Epsilon provided expert testimony on behalf of a private landowner regarding whether his land on the shoreline of Cape Cod Bay contained coastal bank, coastal dune and/or barrier beach resource areas.  The adjudicatory hearing involved expert witnesses from four environmental consulting firms in opposition to the project.  The Epsilon team determined that the project site contained a coastal bank, and presented data and analysis to support this finding.  The adjudicatory judge determined Epsilon’s position was valid and approved the project.

Epsilon is providing waterfront permitting assistance for a new Liquefied Natural Gas facility in Fall River.  Epsilon has developed and implemented Tier II and III Sediment Sampling and Analysis Plans to characterize the 2.6 million cubic yards of dredging associated with the project and evaluate disposal options.  This work included scoping and overseeing two extensive sediment core collection programs, characterizing the cores, preparing samples for laboratory analyses, and analyzing chemical, physical and biological results.  Both efforts required Epsilon to closely coordinate with the USACE and EPA as well as to oversee the operations of the vibracoring contractor and laboratories involved in sediment analyses.  Resulting data and interpretations were used for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and MEPA review processes.  Permit applications were also filed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Massachusetts and Rhode Island state agencies.  In conjunction with permitting efforts for the overall project, Epsilon performed a geotechnical investigation involving Geoprobe sediment coring to delineate the extent of coastal dune along a stretch of the project’s shoreline.

This was a multi-stage project involving coastal wetland resource area delineation under both State and local wetland regulations, subsurface sediment investigation using shallow cores and Ground Penetrating Radar, rare plant species delineation, permitting of two beach access walkways, and the permitting of a single family residence on portions of a 12 acre parcel located along the northern shore of Nantucket.  Epsilon collected and analyzed 40 sediment cores and 1.5 miles of radar transects and performed a coastal resource are delineation and survey using high precision GPS and laser total station.  Epsilon prepared and submitted three sediment analysis reports and two Notice of Intent applications to the Nantucket Conservation Commission on behalf of the client resulting in State and local approvals for the single family residence and walkways.

This project included permitting associated with the redevelopment of a 2.1 acre waterfront site in Boston Inner Harbor, providing both residential and retail uses in addition to the creation of a 36,000 square foot public pavilion along the waterfront.  Epsilon prepared and submitted numerous permit applications for the project including an Environmental Notification Form, Draft and Final Environmental Impact Reports, a Chapter 91 Waterways License application, two Notices of Intent, and an Army Corps of Engineers Section 10 permit application.